Shimla the Queen of Hills survive on the crutches of Interim Development : Govind Chitranta

The convener of Building and Landowner Association Govind Chitranta said that this capital town also called the Queen of hill is surviving on the crutches of Interim Development Plan1978-79 should be replaced by the Shimla Development Plan for the development and planning of this city.
Talking to us Govind Chitranta said that since the inception of Himachal Pradesh, Town & Country Planning Act 1977, it was expected to make a provision for planning and development of the land in a proper manner. 

In Spite of the enactment and amendment being carried out about 10-15 times for the year 1977 till date, the objectives could not be achieved by the successive governments. The population in the year 1977 was about 34 lakhs and which has now grown to about 72 lakhs resulting in the growth of households. The change of society or economy from the agrarian to industrialization and Urbanization has also resulted in the growth of unplanned constructions.
The development plan is a document, which can transform the future of a city by impacting its development positivity in the years to come. Unfortunately, this did not happen in the case of Shimla in particular and state in general. 

This city is famously known as the “Queen of Hills” and has been surviving on the crutches of an interim development plan since 1978-79 till date. 
The authorities and all successive governments found an easy way to play with the bye-laws restoring an a easiest interim development plan route where an amendment can be made without calling any objection and suggestions of all the general public and stakeholders, where as on the contrary, the development plan requires a full fledged public hearing before proposing any changes. 

The lack of coordination and cooperation between the various departments of the state of Himachal Pradesh is one of the major cause for succeeding of malfunctioning of the so called construction without proper planning and development. 

It has been over-look by various concerned authorities for variety of reasons and circumstances which can not be attributed to the common people and stakeholders. the High Court and NGT has also been observed the laxity and negligence of the Govt. functionaries to lead this prevailing grim situation.
Anyhow, in order to resolve and overcome this grim situation the govt. should act effectively to deal with the prevailing situation by giving one time relief to the common people and stakeholders falling under the jurisdiction of TCP, MC merged area, SADA etc. by initiating the following remedial measures, he added.

Mr Chitranta who was in forefront for the cause of 59 villages which were merged in the Shimla Municipal Corporation for the whims and fancies of bureaucrats and politician without gradually elevating the gram panchayat localities to Nagar Panchayat were declared the area of Municipal Corporations in go leading to chaotic situation. Now the inhabitants of these so called urban cum rural merged areas are in doldrum they could not \built a cowshed without the permission of TCP or Shimla MC.

He suggested five points to end the chaotic situation after waging a long battle for the cause of residents of 59 villages stating that blind urbanization of these areas need to be compensated by the Urban Development authority and the civic local self government before they become party of Shimla Development plan.
He emphasized the five steps to sort out the problem of rural area including:

1.The Director is under the obligation to prepare and finalized the development plan for the areas notified by the state govt., that is so called existing unauthorized construction in merged area of Municipal Corporation, Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchyats and SADA by charging the affordable regularization fee.
2. Much delayed interim Development Plan existed/ in vogue for the last more than four decades be
finalized and declared as the final plan.
3. The observations made by the Hon’ble High Court of H. P. and NGT incorporated as a suggestion/guidelines for the future planning of the State development plan.
4. The owners of the core or green areas should be compensated by allotment of alternative land or adequate compensation etc.
5. The provision of section 38 and 39 deal with the change of land use and unauthorized construction became infructuous due to non enforcement of provision by allowing construction without issuing notices to the defaulter within the stipulated period meaning their by deem regularization of construction.

He concluded that the state in its wisdom to handle the cases of existing unsettled constructions or dwelling units may consider one time special relief or measures to the affected people.

National Green Tribunal have banned the construction of buildings in the core and green areas, however various public and commercial high rise construction were developed by the government and Shimla MC under the Smart City project many international agencies funded project showing least regard to the Shimla Interim Development plan which permits new construction to a specific height, he added.